Ep 12: How to Practice Joy (Even When Life Feels Heavy) with Rachel Awtrey

What does joy actually look like when life feels heavy, ordinary, or just plain exhausting?

In this episode, I’m joined by author and podcast host Rachel Awtrey for an honest conversation about redefining joy in seasons that don’t feel particularly joyful — especially in motherhood, grief, and everyday life.

We talk about why joy isn’t a personality trait or a fleeting feeling, but a skill you can practice, even in the middle of hard days. Rachel shares insights from her book Love Your Life (Even When You Don’t Like It All the Time), including how joy can be rebellious, why emotions need motion, and how small, tangible moments can become breadcrumbs of hope.

We also get practical — talking about creating rhythms in your home that support joy, learning to work with your life instead of against it, and how asking “why” one more time can uncover what’s actually making things feel so hard.

If you’re a mom in the thick of it, feeling stuck between loving your life and feeling overwhelmed by it, this episode is for you.

✨ Topics we cover:

• Why joy isn’t the same as happiness

• How to practice joy on regular, ordinary days

• Finding joy in the physical, tangible parts of life

• Why “choosing your hard” matters

• Creating a home that feels supportive, not suffocating

🎧 You can find Rachel and her book wherever books are sold, and follow her on Instagram for more encouragement.

Color Analysis Mentioned: use code ASHLEIGH10

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